Chapter Text
One Month Later
The absence of Derek set Stiles on edge within the house. Every now and then he would look up, expecting to see Derek there waiting for him, only to have his heart drop into his stomach when he remembered that the man had left him. It's not that he blamed Derek, or was mad at him, it just hurt to know that the man that he fell for was no longer around.
Stiles threw himself into his schoolwork, forcing himself to finish his classes, ignoring the confused looks and shocked stares that he received from his classmates and teachers when they took note of Derek no longer kneeling next to Stiles during the lectures.
He now sits at his kitchen table slowly eating his breakfast, doing his best to keep his mind off anything having to do with Derek.
Just as he is about to take the final bite of his burrito, he hears a knock on the door. Arching a brow, he sets his food back on the plate and stands to his feet. Making his way into the foyer, he puts his hand on the doorknob and turns it.
He feels his entire body freeze when he finds Derek on the other side of the door. The older man looks both nervous and surprised as if he didn't expect Stiles to answer his knocking.
“D-Derek,” Stiles stammers before clearing his throat and doing his best to gather his thoughts.
“I uh-” Derek begins before looking down and rubbing the back of his neck. “I…I wanted to talk to you,” he says, finally looking Stiles in the eye.
“Ok,” Stiles nods, drawing out the word. After a moment, he steps aside and gestures for Derek to enter the house.
He leads the other man to the living room, completely ignoring his breakfast that sits on the kitchen table. And together they take their seats. Stiles on the love seat, and Derek on the couch. The latter of the two leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees to try and think of what he wants to say.
“I'm surprised you came,” Stiles says, breaking the silence. “I figured you would want nothing to do with me after you got your freedom and all,” he says. “Plus I thought your mother would do all she could to keep us apart.”
Derek scoffs with amusement before shaking his head. “She doesn’t know I'm here,” he tells the other man. “But I had to come, because there is one thing we left undiscussed.”
Arching a brow, Stiles tells his head to the side a bit. “And what's that?”
“Us,” Derek answers. “The fact that you are attracted to me, and the fact that I can't get you out of my head,” he adds. “Evreywhere I look, your right there, and when I go to sleep, you are always on my mind,” he says. “I just…” he falters and sighs. “When I think of you, I feel conflicted because you quite literally owned me a few months ago, but then I smile because I think of the person you are, and how much I like you…and I just can't make up my mind.”
Stiles sighs and nods. “I know what you mean,” he tells Derek. “I haven't been able to keep you out of my mind either,” he admits. “You already know how I feel about you,” he admits. “And I know that your family probably hates my guts, but I need you to know that I kinda fell for you.”
The other man nods. “I know you have, and honestly, I fell for you too,” he tells the shocked younger man. “Obviously not at first, because we had our…rough patch…but then you became nice and caring, you helped me through panic attacks of my own and you helped me gain my freedom.” he smiles. “And ever since then, I just don't feel complete without you.”
Stiles smiles as tears of joy pool in his eyes. “Derek, I-” he begins, only to stop when Derek moves to sit next to him. The older man brings their hands together.
“I know it's strange, me wanting to be with you and all due to our past, but I just…I want to give this a try,” he says. “I want to give us a try.”
Stiles holds his gaze for a moment before smiling and nodding. “I want that too.”
They hold each other’s gazes for a moment before Derek moves forward and brings his and Stiles’ lips together.
At first, Stiles is startled, but then as Derek begins to explore his mouth, he melts into the kiss, bringing his hand up to run his fingers through Derek’s hair before gently gripping them and giving a soft tug.
Derek smiles as they pull apart.
“That was…amazing,” he breathes.
“Yeah,” Stiles agrees, wide-eyed and breathless.
“So…do you want to go out?” Derek asks, suddenly unsure of himself.
Smiling, Stiles nods. “I would like that very much,” he admits.
“Well, then,” Derek begins as he stands up. “How about I pick you up later, say around six?”
“I'll be waiting,” Stiles tells the other man who beams happily before leaning down to plant another kiss before turning around and leaving the house.
Stiles watches him go before leaping to his feet, he then makes his way up to his bedroom and begins picking out clothes that he will wear out to dinner with Derek. He glances at the clock and finds that it reads to be two in two in the afternoon. Diving into his closet, he pulls out a nice button-up shirt and some jeans. Setting them on the bed, he pulls out his phone and opens a message to send to his father, only to hesitate before he does. He thinks on whether or not it's a good idea to actually say anything just yet when they haven't even officially been on a date. Taking a breath, he backs out of the messaging app and puts his phone back in his pocket.
---
Six pm arrives and with it, Derek Hale, he stands outside Stiles’ door doing his best to collect his thoughts. He had thought of telling his family of his plans for the night but thought better of it, knowing that they would disagree with it and do their best to keep him home.
Raising his hand, he knocks on the door and waits. A few moments later, it opens to reveal Stiles who smiles at him.
Taking in the state in which the younger man is dressed, Derek hums. “You look nice,” he says.
“So do you,” Stiles says when he sees Derek’s nice grey henley and his dark jeans. He hums as Derek holds out his hand. Accepting it, he allows the older man to lead him to his car.
“So where are you taking me?” Stiles asks as they drive down the road.
“It's a surprise,” Derek chuckles. “And if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise,” he shakes his head.
“Fine, don't tell me,” Stiles smiles as he turns to look out the window.
Eventually, they come to a restaurant that strikes Stiles as high-end. Glancing over at Derek he arches a brow.
“You didn't have to take me somewhere like this!” he explains.
“I wanted to do something nice for you,” Derek replies. “And after all that we have been through, I think a nice restaurant is deserved.”
Stiles chuckles before conceding with a nod. “Alright then,” he says before getting out of the car. Together he and Derek enter the building and approach the desk for the host. He smiles at Derek and gives a nod of greeting.
“Ah Mr, Hale, we have your table waiting.”
Glancing at Derek, Stiles arches a brow, but Derek only grins before taking his hand and following after the other man.
They come to a separate room in the back, cut off from the rest of the restaurant by glass doors. A single table sits in the center with two chairs. On the table, Stiles spots a candle that rests on the table cloth.
Derek pulls Stiles’ chair out for him, earning a smile in the process. Once they are both seated the host gives them two menus before wishing them a fine evening and walking away.
“This is nice,” Stiles tells Derek. “I just can't help but think what your family thinks of this.”
Derek pauses and frowns. “I didn't tell them, that I was coming here with you,” he admits. “I didn't want them to try and keep us apart.”
Stiles smiles before reaching out. “Not to ruin what is probably the best night of my life.” he begins. “But Derek, I don't want to sneak around behind your family’s back,” he explains. “They are important to you, and I don't want to ruin your relationship with them, you have to tell them.”
Derek is silent for a moment before nodding. “I will, I promise,” he assures Stiles. The younger man smiles and hums before looking down to study his menu and they fall into a peaceful and comfortable silence.
---
After dinner, Derek takes Stiles, stopping on his doorstep as the other man opens the door.
“I had a nice night,” Stiles tells Derek. “I just have one question,” he admits. He grins and leans forward to gently grab Derek by the collar of his shirt when he raises a brow in question.
“Can I call you my boyfriend? Or is it too soon?”
Chuckling, Derek leans down to capture Stiles’ lips with his own. “You can call me whatever you want, but I like the sound of ‘boyfriend’.”
Stiles beams back at him before nodding. “I’d invite you in, but I don't put out until the third date,” he giggles.
Derek scoffs and nods bemusedly. “That's fair,” he says. “But we should do this again sometime,” he says. “That way we can get to the third date quicker.” he jokes.
Smiling, Stiles nods. “Definitely,” he replies. They stand there for a moment longer before Stiles sighs and hums. “Goodnight Derek,” he says before slipping a napkin he had snagged from the restaurant and written his number on when Derek had gone to the bathroom before they left, into the other man’s pocket. He then turns and enters his house, softly closing the door behind him.
Derek lingers for a moment longer before smiling and returning to his car. He gives one last glance to Stiles’ door before driving off and returning to his new apartment that Laura had helped him buy.
---
In the end, it takes a few months. for Derek’s family to warm up to the idea of him and Stiles being together. They had initially been adamant that Stiles was a horrible person and awful for Derek, thinking that it was a case of Stockholm syndrome. It was Laura who first saw the genuine love he held for Stiles when they attended Laura’s wedding together. The atmosphere and the close proximity of other guests had put Derek on edge, sending him into a panic attack, one that only Stiles was able to get him out of, just by touching his face softly with his fingertips and whispering gently to him.
Laura had then later cornered Stiles and given him her blessing to be with her brother. She promised that she would talk to the others, mainly Talia, and do her best to get them to see things clearly.
And after a few weeks of spending time with Derek at his family’s house, they finally do accept him, and even start smiling when they see him, finally witnessing the love he holds for Derek, and the love Derek holds for him.
Now, as Stiles lays in bed with Derek, he watches the other man breathe softly in his slumber. Leaning over he plants a kiss on Derek’s cheek before settling down and wrapping his arms around Derek, clinging to him like a teddy bear, earning a muffled sleepy rumble from the other man before he settles in Stiles’ arms.
“I love you with all my being,” he whispers before closing his eyes.